Yawanarajah is a recognized thought-leader in peacemaking practice and mediation training. She is known for combining non-Western perspectives of conflict and conflict-resolution with Western professional, multitrack (Tracks I, II and III) mediation approaches to design effective peace processes

Yawanarajah is based in London and splits her time between her work as deputy director at the Oxford Process and as a professionally accredited mediator in the UK (2018) at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR). As Deputy Director at Oxford Process, she works in quiet diplomacy efforts to resolve violent conflicts and conducts negotiations workshops for conflict parties engaged in peace processes. At CEDR she delivers international mediation courses for international conflict resolution practitioners.

Yawanarajah has worked in the field of international conflict resolution for over 25 years, in roles straddling the operational and strategic aspects of conflict prevention and peacemaking. As head of Good Offices at the Commonwealth Secretariat from 2009 to 2016, she led preventive diplomatic missions to promote democratic transitions and preventing post-election violence in Commonwealth countries. At the UN, she participated in UN peacemaking teams for Darfur and Western Sahara, established peacemaking training programmes for UN political staff, and supported peacemaking initiatives in Cyprus and Madagascar.

In 2004, Yawanarajah joined the UN’s Department of Political Affairs and became a founding member of its Mediation Support Unit at UNHQ, New York. In 2007, she received the UN Secretary-General’s 21 Award in recognition of her knowledge management project that created the UN’s first database for peace agreements and peacemaking called: ‘UN Peacemaker.’

Yawanarajah early diplomatic career included extensive involvement in multi-lateral negotiations at the United Nations. She worked with the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77 while working at the Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations from 1993-1994. During this time, she was part of the NAM negotiating team for creation of the office of the high Commissioner for human rights, as well as the G-77 negotiating team for resolutions pertaining to development and the Copenhagen Summit. She also participated in negotiation of resolutions pertaining to Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo in the Former Yugoslavia. She was involved in UN peace operations in Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina & Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia/Eretria from 1995-2003 where she worked closely with military commanders and conducted shuttle diplomacy between conflict actors to mediate local ceasefires and post- conflict peacebuilding agreements.

Yawanarajah holds a Doctoral degree from King’s College London (2023), Master’s Degree from Columbia University, New York (1995) and her bachelor’s degree from University of Minnesota (1992).